Doll eyes



Oct. 1, 1929.

B. B. M CROSKY DOLL EYES Filed Aug. 24, 1927 I N V EN TOR. firm/n7 5 M d a /(r B1 Mum/W ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOLL EYES Application filed August 24, 1927.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application relates to improvements in doll eyes which close when the doll is reclined and open when the doll is raised in an upright position.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a doll, the eyes of which may close instantaneously or gradually when the doll is reclined, according to the position of the doll when reclined.

It is the object of the invention to effect an instantaneous closing of the eyes of the doll when the doll is laid on one side thereof while laying down the doll on the other side thereof will necessitate the rocking of the doll to gradually close the eyes thereof.

The above and other objects in View will more readily appear as the description proceeds, although I show and describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that changes as to the form, parts, the design and arrangement may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the annexed drawing, in which my invention is illustrated and which forms a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a doll head embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the doll head showing the clamping mechanisms, the top of the head being removed,

Figure 4 is a face view of the pendulum guide and the clamping means therefor,

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the pendulum guide taken along the line 5-5 of Figure t.

In thedrawing 1 indicates a doll head in the face wall of which are eye openings 2 in which are fitted eye balls 3. The backs of the eye balls 3 are secured to the ends of a transverse bar 4: by means of screws 5. The transverse bar 4 is pivotally supported in lugs 6 extending from a fastening plate 7. The plate 7 has a centrally located slot 8 adjacent to the end thereof for receiving a fastening screw 9 secured to a boss 10 which Serial No. 215,108.

latter protrudes inwardly from the face of the doll head. An arm 11 extends downwardly and is fixedly secured to the transverse bar 1 between the lugs 6. A pendulum 12 is secured to the lower end of the arm 11. Vhen the pendulum 12 swings away from the face of the doll head it turns the arm 11 and thereby rotates the transverse bar 4 in the lugs 6, so that the eye balls 3 are turned in their openings 2 to simulate a child going to sleep or awakening.

A pin 13 descends from the pendulum 12. A pendulum guide denoted in its entity by the numeral 14- comprises a Y-shaped member 15 and a guide 16 depending therefrom and se cured thereto by means of a screw 17. The guide 16 is bent so as to form a curvature, the concave side of which is bent toward the face portion of the doll head. The center of the curvature of the guide 16 is approximate- 1y on the axis of the transverse bar 4. The Y-shaped member 15 carries the clamp 18 at the end thereof, adjacent to the rear of the doll head. The clamp 18 is fastened thereto by means of a screw 19 bearing on the Y- shaped member 15. The bi-forked members of the Y-member 15 are denoted by the nu ineral 20, the ends thereof are cut so as to form tongues 21. The tongues 21 are bent downwardly thereby forming a wedge opening 22 for the engagement of the edge of the face portion of the doll head. The guide is firmly clamped in place by pressing the wedge opening 22 against the corner of the doll face by means of fastening the clamp member 18.

The guide member 16 has a straight slot 23 and a zig-zag slot 24 cut therein so that the straight and the zigzag slots are one continuous opening in the guide 15 and are disposed side by side. The inside walls of the slots 23 and 24 are formed by an insert member 25 out so that the outline of the insert member 25 is parallel with the other wall of the slots 23 and 24, said insert member is supported in position by means of a bridge member 26 reaching over from the outside wall of the guide 16 to the insert 25 and secured to the guide and to the insert memher by means of screws 27,

The pin 13 extends into the slot and when the doll is held in an upright position the pin 13 is forced by the weight of the pendulum 12 to the lower extremity of the slot 28 and is guided by a beveled wall 28 so as to take up a position. opposite the first turn of the, zigzag slot 24;.-

Looking at the face of the doll when the doll is laid down so that it is in a rec lined' position on the right side of'thehead the pin 13 is forced by the action of the pendulum 12 to travel on the bevel 28 into the straight slot 28 and to travel the full length of the straight slot 23 instantaneously, thereby closing the dolls eyes without necessitating the rocking of the doll; lVhen the doll.

is raised again into the. upright-positionthe pin 13. guided by a bevel. 29 onthe upper corner of the insert member 25 follows the straight slot 23 and instantaneously opens the dolls eyes.

hen the doll is reclined without turning the head to either. side the pin 13 hits against the protrusion 30 disposed at the lower end of the insert member 25 opposite the bevel portion28, and the eyes of the doll are kept open because the pin 13 rests upon said protrusion without. engaging either one of said slots. In this case the doll is put asleep by rocking right and left alternately so that the pin 14. slides off the protrusion 30 into the first zig-zag slot 24 and. by every rocking in opposite directions the pin13 travels the full length-of one-half of-a Zig-zag slot.. a After the pin 13travelsthefull length of the slot 24%. it isrocked at the upper end thereof tothe top of the straight slot 23 and.

the. eyes of the doll are completely closed. hen the doll is elevated again in the upright position. the pin- 13 travels the fulllength of the straight slot 23 instantaneously and the eyes of the doll open.

hen the doll is laid down so as to be turned onthe side toward the zig-zag slot 2 1', the pin 13 immediatelyengages the first portion of the slot 24. and'the doll may be rocked to sleep as heretofore described.

It is apparent that the rocking-of the doll. from side to side in avreclined position causes; the eye balls to gradually turn and produce a veryaccurato imitation of a child going to sleep. By meansof the straight slots the awakening of the child is imitated more naturally than if the doll would have to be rocked awake. It is also evident that the use of the straight slot and the zigzag slot is interchangeable anddepends on which side the doll is laid down and that the movement of the eyes is fully controlled by the guiding slots 23,. 2 1 and the pin13. Having-thus described myinvention, what- I nowclaim as novel and desire to secure by Lettersv Patent is r 1. In combination with adoll havingturn: ably mounted opening and closing eyes, a pendulum mounted on the eyeballs with freedom of lateral swinging movement, and an arcuate pendulum guide having a straight and a zig-zag slot disposed side by side therein for guiding the pendulum so as to cause the. eyesto close, when the doll is reclined on oneside and to cause the eyes to be closed gradually by the rocking of the doll when the sameis reclined on the other side, and to open the eyes without rocking when the doll is disposed in an upright position.

2; In combination with a doll having turnably mounted eyes therein, a pendulum connected with the eyes for turning the same, said pendulum having freedom of lateral swinging movement upon said mounting;

and an arcuate pendulum guide having azig-zag slotanda straight slot disposed side by side therein, said slots being. disposed in operative. relation to the pendulum: so as to selectively guidethe same. Y

3. In combinationwitha, dollhaving opening and closing eyes, a.pendulummounted on the eyeballs for turning the same, and an arcuate pendulum guide having! a. straight slot and a zig-zag slot. therein disposed side by side saidstraight slot permitting unobstructed movement of the pendulum thereinwhen the doll 1S reclined onone side thereby causing the pendulumtoclose the eyes of said.- doll promptly,.saidizig-zag slot guiding the movement of the pendulum in zig-zag upon rocking the dollwhen the doll is'recline'd onthe other side,.ther.eby causing the pendulum to close the eyes' gradually, and means to direct the pendulum into said straight slot when the doll is raised'toan upright position.

' i. In combination with a doll having pivotally mounted opening and closing eyes, a pendulum, means for mounting said pendu lum on the eyeballsn ith freedom of lateral swinging movement, apendulum guide including a straight section and a curved section, the rearend of said straight section being clamped to the top of the rear wall of the doll head,ttongues on the front end of the straight section restingon. top. of the front wall of the doll head so that said curved section rests-inside the doll head, said curved section being-centered substantially around the pivotal: mountingof the eyeballs and having a zigzag slot therein, engaged by the lower end of said pendulum when the doll is reclined on: one side whereby the ,eyes are caused to close-whenthe doll. is rocked sidewise, and having astraight slot disposed on the side of said Zig-zag slot and connected therewith, so asto be engaged by. the lower end of the pendulum when the'doll is reclined on the other=sidethereby causing the eyes to close instantaneouslyandcausing said eyes toopen when the doll is returned to an uprightv position. p a V a 5. In combination with a doll having opening and closing eyes, a pendulum for turning the eyes, being mounted on the eyeballs with freedom of lateral swinging movement, and an arcuate pendulum guide having a straight and a Zig-zag slot side by side therein for guiding the pendulum to cause the eyes to close when the doll is reclined on one side and to cause the eyes to close gradually by rocking the doll when the same is reclined on the other side and to open the eyes when the doll is disposed in an upright position, and means to removably secure said pendulum guide to the head of the doll, in operative relation to said pendulum.

6. In combination with a doll having opening and closing eyes, a pendulum for turning the eyeballs, being mounted on the eyeballs with freedom of lateral swinging movement, an arcuate pendulum guide centered substantially around the pendulum mounting and an insert member secured to said pendulum guide so as to form therein a straight slot and a zig-zag slot, side by side, said straight slot guiding the pendulum when the doll is reclined on one side and said zig-zag slot guiding the pendulum when the doll is rocked laterally in a reclined position on the other side.

7. In combination with a doll having turnably mounted eyes therein, a pendulum connected with the eyes for turning the same, said pendulum having freedom of lateral swinging movement upon said mounting; an arcuate pendulum guide having a zigzag slot and a straight slot disposed side by side therein, said slots being disposed in operative relation to the pendulum so as to selectively guide the same, and means to removably clamp said guide to the head of the doll.

8. In combination with a doll having turnably mounted eyes therein, a pendulum connected with the eyes for turning the same, said pendulum having freedom of lateral swinging movement upon said mounting; and an arcuate pendulum guide having a Zigzag slot and a straight slot disposed side by side therein, said slots being disposed in operative relation to the pendulum so as to selectively guide the same and communicating with each other at the opposite ends thereof so as to direct said pendulum into the slot toward which the doll is reclined and so as to direct said pendulum into the straight slotafter the eyes are closed.

9. In combination with a doll head having opening and closing eyeballs, a bar rotatably supported on the inside of said head for holding the eyeballs in place; a pendulum for rotating the bar, said pendulum being secured to the bar with freedom of lateral swinging movement, an arcuate guide plate secured in said head so as to be centered around the bar; said guide plate having a straight slot and an arcuate slot therein, disposed side by side; the end of the pendulum being slidable in said slots; said slots being so formed at an end thereof so as to direct the pendulum into the slot toward which the doll is reclined, the other ends of the slots being adapted to direct the pendulum into the straight slot after the eyeballs are turned to the closed position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BYNUM B. MCCROSKY. 

